The idea behind På 123 is simple; to give artists and audience members alike the opportunity to immerse themselves in the music of a single composer over three intense days. Young musicians are on board - both as performers and as audience members.
Ludwig van Beethoven — perhaps the greatest of them all for the Engegård Quartet — died on 26 March 1827. In the anniversary year of 2027, the quartet will mark the 200th anniversary of his death with, not one, but three classical mini-festivals devoted to Beethoven’s early, middle and late periods. World–class musicians will come to Oslo to interpret his music, while the Engegård Quartet itself will perform all 16 of Beethoven’s string quartets - a body of work that transformed the history of the string quartet. We promise full immersion, fresh perspectives on music you for sure know and love, and discoveries capable of surprising even the most seasoned Beethoven listener. For instance, did you know that Beethoven wrote music for a ballet?
This could be Norway’s most ambitious chamber-music celebration of Beethoven in 2027 - bringing together world-class stars, children and young people, cross-disciplinary artistic encounters and some seriously talented youngsters. You may have noticed that there is no 1-2-3 festival in 2026. The reason is simple: The Engegård Quartet is dedicating the year to preparing this great anniversary celebration.
The festival host, the Engegård Quartet, is one of Norway’s most sought-after chamber ensembles. The quartet is renowned for its bold, fresh and vibrant interpretations of the classical repertoire, while championing their Scandinavian roots. The ensemble has earned broad international acclaim and forged close collaborations with some of the world’s leading chamber musicians. The result is concert programming marked by artistic excellence, curiosity and rich diversity.
